Barnaby Rudge

by Charles Dickens

Novel #13 in my year of Dickens!

This is the other historical novel by Dickens, and in many ways, it is like his subsequent historical novel, A Tale of Two Cities.

The time period is 1775 to 1780. In 1780, the Gordon Riots separated Catholics and Protestants. The Gordon Riots were anti-Catholic, and these riots are featured in the novel's plot.

Barnaby Rudge is a simple-minded fellow, who is pulled into the riots, not really understanding the reasoning behind the mob's violence. There are other Protestant characters, as well as Catholic characters affected by the rioting. Of course, there are also fatherless men who will learn more about their fathers, the battle between rich and poor, love interests, a murder mystery, and redemption.

My gripe with this novel is that it lacks a sympathetic protagonist, an engaging plot, and the colorful characters for which Dickens is known. This is definitely not one of my favorites, and I would not consider it necessary reading, even for fans of Dickens.

12/10/08